Discover Fontanarosa: Churches, Local History and Landscape

Architecture, Portals and Religious Art

Another architectural highlight is the church of the Confraternità SS.Rosario e S.Antonio. It has a single nave and an imposing portal made of local stone on its façade. In the Santuario Maria SS. della misericordia, the statue of the Madonna della Misericordia is a medieval sculpture. Together, these three places showcase different forms of expression: the single-nave church interior, the stone portal and the medieval sculpture each set their own focus.

The “Tirata del Carro” on August 14

One of Fontanarosa’s distinctive traditions is the traditional “Tirata del Carro.” It takes place every year on August 14. August 14 is the key date for travel planning because the event takes place on this date every year. During this event, a 28-meter-high straw obelisk is pulled by two teams of oxen. There is also a traditional explanation for the name “Carro”: it is presumably derived from the fact that farmers transported grain as an offering on a wagon pulled by oxen. In Fontanarosa, this links a specific festival date with an extraordinary sight and a religiously shaped rural tradition.

Old Place Names and Limestone Architecture

The historic center of Fontanarosa preserves the old names of the districts of Dogana, Pozzo and Castello Vecchio. There are also historic street names such as Avvisati, Bastione, Bianchi, Murillo and Murorotto. The architecture of the historic center is characterized by limestone quarried locally or in nearby quarries. Just a few meters from the old town center is the Museo Civico di Fontanarosa. The proximity of the museum and town center, together with the preserved names, gives the local history a concrete form rooted in the townscape. The few meters between the museum and town center therefore allow for a compact combination of both destinations in your daily itinerary.

The Fredane Plain near Fontanarosa

Near Fontanarosa, the fertile plain in the valley of the Fredane River is cultivated with grapevines, olive trees and wheat. The limestone of the buildings and the cultivated plain create an interplay in Fontanarosa between the built-up center and the agricultural valley; thus, alongside local history, the use of the surrounding area is also part of the town’s character.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

If you would like to combine Fontanarosa with other places on your journey, you will also find Baiano, Pietradefusi, Ariano Irpino, Rocca San Felice, Vallata, San Sossio Baronia, Beatrice and Villaggio Laceno.

For the overarching travel overview: Avellino.